Retort can tray loader



Jan. 8, 1952 H. A. YOUNG RETORT CAN TRAY LOADER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1947 loooeaoooooooooo Inventor Harold A. Young Fig. 2

Jan. 8, 1952 H. A. YOUNG RETORT CAN TRAY LOADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1947 v I m'entor Harold A. Young Attorney.-

l n l l l I l a Jan. 8, 1952 H. A.. YOUNG 2,581,742

RETORT CAN TRAY LOADER Filed Feb. 3, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 8

Harold A. Young By 5% a I "rel/tor Patented Jan. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nE'roRr CAN TRAY Leanna Harold A. Young, Milton, Oreg, Application February a, 1947, Serial No. 726,064

' (o1. res--31) 4 Glaims.

This invention relates to a device for guiding, moving. grasping and. loading cans. An object 01' this invention is to provide endless means, preferably of the conveyor type, for conducting cans. Another object of this invention is to provide m'eansl for'indicating the arrival of apredetermined number of canson the device. 'Another object of this invention is to provide means for urging a bank of cans on said endless neana' Another object of this invention is to provide means for grasping a plurality 'of cans.

' A further object of this invention is to provide means for regulating the effective force of said grasping means.

A' still further object of" this invention is to provide stop means defining theli'mits of can travel on the stand,

Another'object of this invention is to provide mutual power means for driving said endless conveyor means, said urging or can pushing means and a suction producing meansfor grasping a plurality of cans;

Other objects and features of novelty will become readily apparent to" those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred embodiment of the instantinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a'pl'anc view of the preferred embodiment of the instant invention showing schematically; cans being loaded thereon;

Figure 2 is aside elevationalview of the inventionfldisclosed in Figurel; I

Figure 3 isan enlarged fragmentary detail view partlyin section and partly inelevation and showing particularly the stop means, clutch means and cam means forming part of the instantinvention; 'fli'igure4 is a plan detail view of the star cam and its associated gear mechanism formingpart or the instant invention; Figure 5' is an elevational fragmentary detail view of the can grasping means forming part of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view, partly in section showing-the .detail disclosed in Figure 5; I

' Figure '7' is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-1 of Figure 6 and in the direction of'the arrows;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional viewof the detail disclosed in Figure 7 and taken substantially on the line 8-8 thereof and in the direction of the arrows Figure 9 is a fragmentary schematic view showingjthe wiring diagram for the electrical apparatus associated with the can urging means and also showing the one way clutch. used in conjunction with the instant invention.

, Referring now in detail to the above described illustration of the preferred form of the instant invention, like reference characters are used throughout to indicate similar elements A suitable stand or table (unnumbered) is composed of any suitable durable material such as iron, steel and the like, is provided withconventiOnal legs 12 and Hand is provided with a shelf l5 which is preferably secured to said legs. A pair of side members l8 and 20 having upwardly extending flanges 22, provided at the top thereof and a plurality of rollers 24" are journaled in said flanges 22. An extension of said stand or table is provided by the addition of another pair of legs 26 joined by'braces 2 8 suitably secured to said legs and said table. Edge members 30'- and 32 are provided along the top edge of said legs 26 and arepivoted thereto by suitable pivot pins 34. Rollers 36 are journaled in the said members 30 similar to the rollers 24 and the'saidmembers 22". It is obvious from an inspection of Figures 2 and 3- that' the end members 3-0= and rollers 36 form a substantial continuation of the table top formed by the rollers Hand associated bearing members 22.

A source of' power; preferably theelectri'c motor 38 isreceived on the said shelf l6 and is provided with a sheave 40 secured to theconventional armaturebearing shaft of the motor. A

large sheave-flywheel 4? having ashaftp'roje'cti'n'g" therethrough' and 'journaled' in suitable perches securedto said shelf I6, is provided with a belt connectiontherebetween and the said sheave 40*. A Suitable" stand bracket- 48 is secured to said leg M and has j'ourna-ledthereon adouble sheave- 5H. A-suitable belt, preferably V grooved, is entrained about" one of the peripheral grooves of'said double sheave and about the said sheave 42. A third belt 52 is entrained over the second peripheral groove of said double sheave- Eli and overextension 5d of said rollers 24 and 3'6; It is here noted that any other convention-a1" system of belting maybe usedto drive said rollers, one of which is to provide an extra-sheave on the first roller-and a fourth-belt driven thereby for imparting rotation to the remainder of the rolls. It is apparent that upon rotation of the sheave 40 impartedthereto by the motor 3-8, the sheaves 4 2 and- 50 will be in turn rotated and accordingly the endless conveyor rollers set inmotion.

As is seen from aninspection of Figure I, a

chute 5Bis provided adjacent one corner of the rollers-of the endless conveyor.

endless conveyor and is adapted to receive and guide cans 58 thereon. The neutral or dead portion of the conveyor 60 is provided as a continuation of the said chute 56 and is adapted to receive the said cans 58 thereon. A star shaped cam or star wheel 62 is removably received on a suitable stub shaft 64 which may be permanently secured to the said table. Fixedly secured to the said star shaped cam 62 is a spur gear 66 adapted to mesh with the second spur gear 68 rotatably journaled on a suitable bracket I which is also secured to the said table. A cam 12 depends from the said 4 H2. It is apparent from an inspection of Fi ure 3 that the baflie I98 projects through the top portion of the table until actuated by said cam member H2. Since said member H2 is secured to the pusher bar 98, the stop or baflle I08 will remain in its uppermost position until the pusher bar begins to function. At that point gear 68 and is adapted to trip or actuate a suit-' able switch 14 one time per revolution of the gear 68. Any type of electrical circuit breaker may be used in place of the switch 14 and it has been found that the utility of a mercuric type.

of circuit breaker renders excellent results.

Secured to the shaft 44 is a suitable and conventional single revolution clutch member 16 ,as seen in Figure 9. The said clutch mechanism I6 is conventional in nature showing a pair of gears 18 and 88 having teeth on the flat faces thereof and adapted to be engaged and disengaged by the fork member 82. The said fork member 82 is pivoted to the shelf I6 by some suitable pivot means such as the pin 84. A conventional solenoid 86 having a bracket 88 secured thereto, is received on the said shelf I6 by any suitable conventional securing means. The piston 90 of the solenoid has a link 92 pivoted to the end thereof and the other end of said .link 92 is pivoted to the said fork member 82. It is apparent now that upon actuation of the said switch 74 the circuit 94 is closed thereby energizing the solenoid 86 and engaging the single revolution clutch "I6. A-connecting rod 96 is pivoted at an ofiset to the axis of rotation of the said member 42 and pivotally received on a pusher bar 98. The said pusher bar 98 is hingedly received on the leg I4; and the corresponding leg of the said table. A suitable hinge I80 of the single shaft pivotal type may be employed for mounting the said pusher bar. A cross member I02 is secured to the said pusher bar 98 and is adapted to con.- tact abank or predetermined number of cans which accumulate on the dead portion 68 of the live roll. It is obvious that when the cam I2 contacts the switch I4 'as hereinabove described the pusher bar 98 will be operative for a single revolution of-the said sheave or flywheel ,42 thereby moving a bank of cans 58 on the live It is here noted that by interchanging various shapes of cams in place of the cam 62 and various sizedgears in place of the gears 66 and 10, any number of cans may be loaded on the dead portion 60 of the live rolls in accordance with the selection of cams and gears. Depending from the dead portion 68 of the said table top is a pair of guides I84 and I06 adapted to receive a baflle I08 therebetween. An aperture H0 is provided through the said baflie I08 and is adapted to receive an actuating link or cam H2 therein. The said actuating link or cam H2 is composed of two portions the first of which is a link H4 pivotally received on the said pusher bar 98 and a second link H8 pivoted to said link, H4. A suitable guide shoe I20 may be provided on the said leg I4 to ,re-

strict .the travel of the said cam rod H2. A ec ide crime 2, ma be provided 91 said table to assist in guiding the said member the bafiie I08 will be carried down below the uppermost portion of therollers in the endless conveyor. It is understood that a second cam link H2 is provided on the opposite end of the said pusher rod 98 and since it is identical to the described cam link, duplication of this description is omitted.

Secured to the free end of the said pivoted table extension 38 is a depending lug I24 which hasa rod I26 pivoted thereto. The said rod I26 is also pivoted to the said leg I2 by a suitable pin I28. A pair of guide rails I38 is secured to the bottomportion of the table top and a battle or stop I32 is slidably received therebetween. The said baflle I32 is :pivoted at thebot tom end thereof to the said member, I26." "It is apparent from an inspection of Figure 2 that when a predetermined weight of "cans arereceived on the said table extension the pivoted portion will react against and overcome the mass of a counterweight I34 secured to the end of the said rod I26 when the mass of thefc'ans is sufiicient to overcome that of the counter weight, the pivoted portion will rotate about" 34 as an axis until said portion abuts thelink 28. At the same time that 'the pivoted portioriis rotating, the stop or bafiie I32 will be lifted and through the rollers of the endless conveyor. 'It is here noted thatthere are two 19P- positely disposed baffle actuating mechanisms used in conjunction herewith however, since they are both identical only one is'described herein. I

It is now .seen that on the said pivoted portion of the. table,'the stop I32 rises thereby impeding the admission of more cans than are desired. In orde'rfjto grasp the cans on said pivoted extension of the tabletop, a novel suction actuatingmeansi's' provided. A base plate I38 is provided with suitable bracingfor web members I40 on the top portion thereof. A rod I42 is secured'..to"sai d webbing at substantially thev center offthesaid base plate I38. There may be provided atthe maybe used to join thes'aid housings I46 tothe said :base plate I38..

Received on the said shelf I6 is" a conventional vacuum pump I54 having the conventional drive shaft I56 extending from the side. thereof..".A sheave I69 is conventionallyreceived on thesfaid shaft I56 :and :a'belt driveI62 is entrained around the said sheave I66 and thelsheave '48 Obviously, when the power means, 38 "isieaergized the vacuum pump I54 is rendered oper tive. v A suitable fiexible conduit I64 is secured to the inlet side of the said vacuumpump'a nd terminates in .a suitable distribution chamber I86, which has a three way valve I6B'operatlvely secured in the s'ys'texri.- A' plurality er conduits after the cans are movedv I50 lead from the said distribution chamber and are joined to their respective housings I46,

one of which is shown in Figures 5 to S. The purpose of installing a three way valve in the system is to release the vacuum when the valve isfclosed or shut oil the housings from the vacuum supply. I "Received in the bore of the said outlet I48 is a piston valve 316 having a flared portion I12 formed integral therewith. A toggle link H4 is pivotally received on asuitablepe'rch iIB within the said housing M5. Secured to alternate ends of the said toggle link is the said piston valve I16 and a feeler I'Is which projects through the base plate 38 by means of a suitable aperture ISO provided therethrough, If desired, a pair of the said toggle links IM'may be provided as disclosed in Figure 8. A suitable resilient pad, preferably soft rubber, is secured to the lower portion of the said base I38. Said resilient pad, indicated at 82, adapted to abut the cans 58 thereby forming a substantially airtight seal between the said cans and the vacuum chamber I84 in the housing Hit. A suitable aperture I86 is provided directly through the said resilient pad and the said base plate I38 thereby affording communication between the top portion of a can 58 and the said suction chamber I84.

The said piston valve I71] is actuated by means of the rod I18 abutting the can. When the position as shown in Figure 7, the rod 5'18 pulls the piston I and the valve bearing skirt It: downwardly thereby releasing the air trapped in the vacuum chamber to the vacuum pump I54. If by inadvertence a can of improper size is among the cans to be grasped, no suction will be lost through the associated aperture I86, since the valve I10, H2 is sucked into its closed position.

The function of the three way valve N38 is now more clear. After the base plate I38 along with all of its associated grasping mechanism is lowered on a bank of cans to be grasped and lifted, the three way valve is turned to its open position thereby allowing a vacuum to be formed above each can. A conventional hoist then lifts the plurality of cans 58 to be removed and carries said cans to their destination. The valve is then turned to the closed position thereby cutting oif the suction produced by the vacuum pump I54. Further, when the valve is turned to its closing position the atmospheric vent I88 is exposed to the atmosphere or opened, thereby permitting atmospheric air or air under atmospheric pressure to be sucked into the vacuum chambers I84. Obviously this last operation will release all the cans I58.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes including omissions and additions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, limitation is sought only'in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the instant invention, what is claimed as novel and improved is as follows:

1. In a can tray loading device, a stand, means for directing cans in a predetermined travel, endless means for conducting cans, power means on said stand, means for urging a bank of cans on said endless means, said last means driven by said power means, means responsive to the number of cans passing through said directing means for rendering said urging means operative, and stop means defining thelimits of cans travel on said stand operable by said urging means, said last mentioned means including guides secured to said stand, a baflie disposed within said guides, an actuating bar secured to said urging means and cooperating with said bafiie whereby said baffle may be operatedupon movement of said urging means.

2. For use with an article handling apparatus, an article handling device comprising a stand, an endless conveyor carried by'sa'id stand, means for urging articles on said endless conveyor including a shelf secured to said stand, a pusher pivoted to said stand swingable over said shelf, and means for actuating said conveyor and said pusher including a motor drivingly connected with said endless conveyor, and a clutch connected between said pusher and said motor, means responsive to the actuation of said article urging means for rendering said clutch operative, drivingly connecting said motor and said pusher for a single reciprocatory cycle of operation of said pusher, a baiile having an opening therein mounted between rollers of said conveyor, a cam rod actuated by said pusher and disposed in said opening for lowering said baffle when the pusher urges articles on the conveyor.

3. For use with an article handling apparatus, an article handling device comprising a stand, a roller conveyor carried by said stand, means for urging articles on said conveyor including a shelf secured to said stand, a pusher pivoted to said stand swingable over said shelf, means for actuating said conveyor rollers and said pusher including a motor drivingly connected with said conveyor, a clutch connected between said pusher and said motor, means responsive to the actuation of said article urging means for rendering said clutch operative, drivingly connecting said 'motor and said pusher for a single reciprocatory cycle of operation of said pusher, a portion of said roller conveyor being mounted for pivotal movement, counterweight means for maintaining said portion in a raised position, said portion of the roller conveyor being downwardly movable when the weight thereon overcomes the counterweight means, and a stop disposed in the remainder of the conveyor which is lowered responsive to weight of articles acting on the conveyor.

4. For use with an article handling apparatus, an article handling device comprising a stand, a roller conveyor carried by said stand, means for urging articles on said conveyor including a shelf secured to said stand, a pusher pivoted to said stand swingable over said shelf, means for actuating said conveyor rollers and said pusher including a motor drivingly connected with said conveyor, a clutch connected between said pusher and said motor, means responsive to the actuation of said article urging means for rendering said clutch operative, drivingly connecting said motor and said pusher for a single reciprocatory cycle of operation of said pusher, a portion of said roller conveyor being mounted for pivotal movement, counterweight means for maintaining said portion in a raised position, said portion of the roller conveyor being downwardly movable when the weight thereon overcomes the counterweight means, and a stop disposed in the remainder of the conveyor raised and lowered responsive to said counterweight means, a battle having an opening therein and mounted between rollers of said conveyor, a cam rod pivotally secured to and actuated by said pusher and disposed in said 7 opening for loweringesaid baffle when the pusher urges thearticles on the conveyor. i HAROLD A. YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED 1 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,222,535 Crum Apr. 10, 1917 Number v Name Date Rogers et a1 Nov. 27, 1917 Mingle Nov. 4, 1919 Nicholas Oct. 20, 1925 McDermott Oct. 27, 1925 McIntyre Mar. 25, 1930 Douglass Apr. 18, 1933 Anderson June '7, 1938 Perkins Oct. 4 1938 Perkins Feb. 14, 1939 Fedorehak Oct. 5, 1943 

